Homily for the
Memorial of
St. Francis of Assisi
Oct. 4, 2022
Gal 1: 13-24
Collect
Christian Brothers, St.
Joseph Residence, New Rochelle
“You heard of my former way of life in
Judaism…” (Gal 1: 13).
The reading from Galatians and the life
of St. Francis both place before us conversion:
Paul from his zealous, intolerant Judaism to faith in Christ; Francis
from his rich, frivolous, comfortable life to one of “poverty and humility,” as
the collect notes.
For both men conversion was gradual. Paul spent 3 years somewhere in Arabia—which could mean in the southern wilderness of Judea or the lands east of the Jordan—reflecting on his encounter with Christ and the disciples at Damascus; and then a couple of weeks with Peter and James in Jerusalem. Francis underwent the humiliation of defeat in battle and captivity and illness, became a hermit, encountered Christ in a vision, and put aside his worldly clothing, worldly ways, and even family relationships; then gradually and unintentionally gathered followers and a reforming purpose that went beyond physically restoring a single church building.
For both men conversion was an act of
grace. Paul says so explicitly: God “set me apart and called me thru his
grace” (1:15). The collect makes the
point of Francis: by God’s gift he “was
conformed to Christ in poverty and humility,” a complete turnaround from his
youth.
So does God’s grace continually but
gradually touch us, brothers, ever calling us to conversion. He “set [us] apart and called [us] thru
grace,” filled us with youthful enthusiasm to be teachers and apostles and instilled
great aspirations. But, we realize, our
conversion was hardly total; it goes on and on, never seeming to finish. We seek greater “conformity to Christ,” not
in abject poverty like Francis, but—for instance—trying to become more humble,
less self-focused, more attentive to our brothers, and above all, more focused
on Christ and, quoting the collect again, living a “joyful charity” based on
union with Christ.
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